The Families
This extraordinary farm which forms part of the Roxburgh Estate never ceases to move me every time I visit. I have traced my own family back here to the early 1700's and, Robert Young, who I know from the Sprouston Parish Registers was tenant here in 1719 . There is a symbolic Stone in Sprouston Churchyard stating his date of death as 15.8.1737 at the age of 41 (?). He shares this stone with Janet Young wife of James Trotter, tenant in Kerchesters, who died aged 36, sometime after the birth of her youngest son Alexander Trotter who was baptised in November 1738. The relationship between Robert & Janet is unclear - was Robert the brother or father of Janet? Given the unclear age on the headstone and the lack of a burial records this is proving hard to determine.
Thus begins the time of the Trotters. Following the death of Robert Young in 1737 it would appear the tenancy passed to James Trotter & his wife Janet with whom he had 3 sons known to have lived until adulthood, Ninian, George and Alexander and also 2 daughters Christian & Janet. Following Janet's death (sometime between 1739 & 1744), James married his second wife Jane Hood (Jean Hud) in March 1744. The couple had a further 3 sons known to have survived until adulthood, John, James & Adam. Adam's Will comprehensively provides evidence for his siblings and some of their offspring.
James Trotter tenant in Kerchesters died in 1786 aged anywhere between 78 & 91, as his birth date, and place remains inconclusive. He was succeeded by his second son from his first marriage - George. George Trotter continued to farm at Kerchesters until his death in 1811 aged 76. George was also succeeded by his second son - James. At his death in 1829, James passed the tenancy of Kerchesters to his nephew Henry Trotter & others, to be held in Trust for his own eldest son George until he reached his majority. (He was aged 16 at the time of his father's death). Whether George ever took up the tenancy of Kerchesters himself, or whether it continued to be farmed in Trust by Henry Trotter & others remains unclear. In 1839 Mr John Clay took over the tenancy "in succession to Mr Trotter".
Enter the 'Clay Dynasty' at Kerchesters. The most puzzling aspect of the whole jigsaw from the family history perspective. John Clay's wife, Ann Wilson, (daughter of Charles Wilson & Anne Young) was an orphan, raised by her Uncle - John Young, tenant farmer in New Ladykirk, Berwickshire. Is it remotely possible that these Youngs were related to Robert Young known to be tenant in Kerchesters in 1719?
Should this be the case then there would be a relatively unbroken family blood tie to the farm of Kerchesters from approx 1715 until John Clay Junior surrendered the farm in 1896, a period of some 180 years!
Thus begins the time of the Trotters. Following the death of Robert Young in 1737 it would appear the tenancy passed to James Trotter & his wife Janet with whom he had 3 sons known to have lived until adulthood, Ninian, George and Alexander and also 2 daughters Christian & Janet. Following Janet's death (sometime between 1739 & 1744), James married his second wife Jane Hood (Jean Hud) in March 1744. The couple had a further 3 sons known to have survived until adulthood, John, James & Adam. Adam's Will comprehensively provides evidence for his siblings and some of their offspring.
James Trotter tenant in Kerchesters died in 1786 aged anywhere between 78 & 91, as his birth date, and place remains inconclusive. He was succeeded by his second son from his first marriage - George. George Trotter continued to farm at Kerchesters until his death in 1811 aged 76. George was also succeeded by his second son - James. At his death in 1829, James passed the tenancy of Kerchesters to his nephew Henry Trotter & others, to be held in Trust for his own eldest son George until he reached his majority. (He was aged 16 at the time of his father's death). Whether George ever took up the tenancy of Kerchesters himself, or whether it continued to be farmed in Trust by Henry Trotter & others remains unclear. In 1839 Mr John Clay took over the tenancy "in succession to Mr Trotter".
Enter the 'Clay Dynasty' at Kerchesters. The most puzzling aspect of the whole jigsaw from the family history perspective. John Clay's wife, Ann Wilson, (daughter of Charles Wilson & Anne Young) was an orphan, raised by her Uncle - John Young, tenant farmer in New Ladykirk, Berwickshire. Is it remotely possible that these Youngs were related to Robert Young known to be tenant in Kerchesters in 1719?
Should this be the case then there would be a relatively unbroken family blood tie to the farm of Kerchesters from approx 1715 until John Clay Junior surrendered the farm in 1896, a period of some 180 years!
The above is merely the tip of the iceberg! I have much more information and hard evidence regarding these fascinating families!
